Finite element analysis of coupled hydro seismic effects on rock slope stability at a tunnel portal in the Lesser Himalaya
- 1Department of Civil Engineering, Pashchimanchal Campus, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University
- 2Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University
- 3BGC Engineering Inc
Abstract
Rock slope stability in tectonically active mountainous regions is controlled by the combined influence of structural discontinuities, groundwater conditions, and seismic loading. This study presents a comparative finite element analysis of equivalent-continuum and combined-continuum modeling approaches to evaluate the stability of a tunnel portal slope in the Lesser Himalaya under dry, groundwater, rainfall infiltration, and pseudo-static conditions. Under dry conditions, the equivalent continuum model yields a factor of safety (FoS) of 4.3 with a maximum total displacement of 0.062 m, whereas the combined continuum model, incorporating foliation joints, predicts a lower FoS of 3.34 and a higher displacement of 0.21 m. Groundwater and rainfall infiltration further reduce the FoS in both models; in the equivalent continuum model, the FoS decreases to 3.73 and 3.60, whereas in the combined continuum model, it reduces to 2.87 and 2.62, respectively. Under combined transient rainfall and pseudo-static loading, FoS decreases significantly, reaching minimum values of 2.15 and 1.41 for the equivalent and combined models, respectively. The results demonstrate that equivalent continuum models tend to overestimate slope stability by neglecting structurally controlled failure mechanisms, whereas combined continuum models provide a more realistic representation of stress concentration and deformation localization. The findings indicate that neglecting discontinuities can lead to non-conservative stability predictions under coupled hydro-mechanical and seismic loading, particularly in Himalayan rock slopes.
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BibTeX
@article{bhattarai2026finite,
title = {{Finite element analysis of coupled hydro seismic effects on rock slope stability at a tunnel portal in the Lesser Himalaya}},
author = {Nimesh Bhattarai and Tulasi Ram Bhattarai and Abhay Kumar Mandal and Keshab Sharma},
journal = {Discover Geoscience},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1007/s44288-026-00789-8},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s44288-026-00789-8},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Finite element analysis of coupled hydro seismic effects on rock slope stability at a tunnel portal in the Lesser Himalaya
AU - Nimesh Bhattarai
AU - Tulasi Ram Bhattarai
AU - Abhay Kumar Mandal
AU - Keshab Sharma
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/25
JO - Discover Geoscience
DO - 10.1007/s44288-026-00789-8
UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s44288-026-00789-8
AB - Rock slope stability in tectonically active mountainous regions is controlled by the combined influence of structural discontinuities, groundwater conditions, and seismic loading. This study presents a comparative finite element analysis of equivalent-continuum and combined-continuum modeling approaches to evaluate the stability of a tunnel portal slope in the Lesser Himalaya under dry, groundwater, rainfall infiltration, and pseudo-static conditions. Under dry conditions, the equivalent continuum model yields a factor of safety (FoS) of 4.3 with a maximum total displacement of 0.062 m, whereas the combined continuum model, incorporating foliation joints, predicts a lower FoS of 3.34 and a higher displacement of 0.21 m. Groundwater and rainfall infiltration further reduce the FoS in both models; in the equivalent continuum model, the FoS decreases to 3.73 and 3.60, whereas in the combined continuum model, it reduces to 2.87 and 2.62, respectively. Under combined transient rainfall and pseudo-static loading, FoS decreases significantly, reaching minimum values of 2.15 and 1.41 for the equivalent and combined models, respectively. The results demonstrate that equivalent continuum models tend to overestimate slope stability by neglecting structurally controlled failure mechanisms, whereas combined continuum models provide a more realistic representation of stress concentration and deformation localization. The findings indicate that neglecting discontinuities can lead to non-conservative stability predictions under coupled hydro-mechanical and seismic loading, particularly in Himalayan rock slopes.
SN - 2948-1589
ER -